Folding car-step.



5. R.,1. L. L E. E. DUGGERA.

FOLDING CAR STEP. APPUCATION FILED mAY1o.1916.

Patented. Nov. 7, 1916.

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JOSEPH R. DUGGEB., JOSEPH L. DUGGER, ANI) EDWARD E. DUGGER, 0F NORMAN, OKLAHOMA.

FOLDING CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. a, reis.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JosEPH R. DUGGER, J osErI-I L. DUGGER, and EDWARD E. DUGGER, citizens of the United States, residing at Norman, in the countyv of Cleveland and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Car-Steps; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in car steps and it has for its object the provision of a simple, inexpensive and operative step, positioned below the lower step of the car and adapted to be thrown into operative position, when desired for use, or, by reversal of the lever, to be moved out of the way beneath the lower step of the car.

To this end and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists in the peculiar arrangement, combination and adaptation of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically delined in the appended claim.

`The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a `part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a series of car steps, such as are commonly employed upon passenger cars, the steps being indicated in dotted lines and in which our auX- iliary step is shown in position for use.

Fig. 2 is a like view in which the step is shown as moved backward out of its operative position, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the step and its connecting operating levers.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the cross timber or sill of a railway car.

C is one of the side members of the car steps and I is a lever pivoted at its lower end to one end of a link lever H which in turn is pivoted to a link G which latter is pivotally connected to the upper end of a link lever F2 by means of a pivotal pin F.

F designates a lever pivoted at its upper end to the lever F2 and its lower end is pivoted at D3 to the inner end of the link lever D2, the opposite end of the latter being pivotally connected to the rear edge of a supplemental step D by means of a transverse rod D, as shown.

J is a curved rack bar secured to the cross timber H, the notches in which rack bar are engaged by a spring-actuated latch upon the operating lever I.

The operation of the step will be at once readily understood. When it is desired to throw the step outward into operative position, this is accomplished by the throwing forward of the lever I so as to cause the locking latch I carried by the lever to cngage the foremost of the notches in the curved rack bar J. In its forward movement, the lever, through its connecting links G, F2, F and D2, will serve to throw the step outward into operative position, as indi- ,ated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be at once obvious that, by a reverse or throwing backward of the lever into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the step will be withdrawn below the lower fixed step of the car.

The usefulness of an adjustable step of this character will be at once evident, as the lower of a series of steps as used upon railway cars is necessarily a considerable distance from the ground and necessitates the use of a box or stool by passengers upon entering or leaving a car. The use of such appliances will be obviated by the employment of the movable step which we have described.

What we claim to be new is Folding steps comprising, in combination with the fixed steps of a car having side walls, a crank shaft journaled in said walls and having two integral parallel arms projecting therefrom and terminating in apertured ends, a pin mounted in the apertured ends of said arms, angle levers having pivotal connection with the pin outside of said arms, a folding step, a rod carried thereby and to which said levers are pivoted at the angled portions of the levers, a rod carried by one of the fixed steps, aplate having portions of the edge thei'eof turned to form rolls In testimony whereof We hereuntoV uilx and which are joui'navled upon the l'od upon oui` signatuies in presence of two Witnesses.

the fixed step, said plate having a roll upon JOSEPH R. DUGGER.

its opposite end extending its full Width und v JOSEPH L. DUGGER. 5 pvotully mounted upon the rod ezuTied by EDWARD E. DUGGER.

the folding step, and level' and link conneol/Vitnesses:

tions With said crank shaft for rocking the J. H. BESSENT,

same. f DENVER RUNYON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

